The Oedipus Situation

The Oedipus Situation is what Norman is reading about in the novel's opening. The situation discusses the classic Oedipus Complex - the ancient Greek king Oedipus who fell in love with his mother. Mother chides Norman for reading about such filth, but he says, "I thought if both of us could just look at the problem reasonably and try to understand it, maybe things would change for the better," signaling to the reader that Norman's relationship with Mother is unhealthy (Pages 11 - 12).

The S.S. Caledonia

The S.S. Caledonia is the cruise ship where Mary and Sam meet. Although they only spend a week together on the cruise, they decide to get married.

Taxidermy

Taxidermy is Norman Bates' favorite hobby. He has a taxidermied squirrel in the hallway of his house, which he clearly used to practice preserving the dead. It is insinuated in...